Which note value equals three beats?

Which note value equals three beats?

• A. Half Note
• B. Dotted Quarter Note
• C. Dotted Half Note
• D. Whole Note

Answer: (C)

In common time, each beat is a quarter note, so beat values are counted in quarters. A dot adds half of a note’s value to its duration. A half note equals two beats, and adding half of that (one beat) gives three beats in total. That makes the dotted half note the one that lasts three beats. By contrast, a half note lasts two beats, a dotted quarter note lasts one and a half beats, and a whole note lasts four beats.

In common time, each beat is a quarter note, so beat values are counted in quarters. A dot adds half of a note’s value to its duration. A half note equals two beats, and adding half of that (one beat) gives three beats in total. That makes the dotted half note the one that lasts three beats. By contrast, a half note lasts two beats, a dotted quarter note lasts one and a half beats, and a whole note lasts four beats.